Dover Athletic manager Andy Hessenthaler not ruling out signing player-coach or player-assistant manager as club look to bolster backroom staff

Dover boss Andy Hessenthaler is not ruling out signing a player-coach or a player-assistant manager.

Whites returned to pre-season training this week but their backroom team looks threadbare at present.

Coach Nicky Southall’s departure was announced on Friday, with player-coach Reda Johnson having also left Crabble at the end of last season.

“Nicky couldn’t do the training schedule because of other work commitments,” Hessenthaler said.

“It’s a gutter for me but we are going to deal with that.

“I’m actively looking and speaking to a few people. I have not ruled out a player-coach or player-assistant role for somebody.

“I’m talking to a player that has some experience that would be interested in the role as well as being a player, so we will see how that goes.”

On the field things are looking brighter, with striker Reece Grant, midfielder Arjanit Krasniqi and winger Luke Wanadio having agreed to be part of Dover’s squad in National League South.

Krasniqi is one of three left-footed players already in the squad alongside returning Tyrone Sterling and full-back Alfie Paxman, who has joined from Folkestone.

“We are starting to build the balance, that’s the key,” Hessenthaler explained.

“One thing last year was we didn’t have enough left-sided players in the team.

“But this year, we have got Tyrone Sterling back at the club, Alfie Paxman has come in from Folkestone and Arjanit Krasniqi who is also left-footed.

"With the likes of Alfie Pavey in the team, we have got to get crosses in from wide areas. But we are building it the right way.”

Grant, 27, arrives having helped Maidstone win the National League South title last season. He previously featured for Ebbsfleet and Dagenham.

“I have come across Reece quite a few times,”